Ultraman Max

 

Ultraman Max (ウルトラマンマックス Urutoraman Makkusu) was an Ultraman TV series which started airing on 7 July2005, and produced by Tsuburaya Productions and Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co., Ltd.. The show tried to return to the true formula of new monsters every week and being a fast paced show like previous series with the exception of Ultraman Nexus. The show is full of homages to past series by having three of the original cast members from the first Ultraman series (and one original cast member from the second Ultraman series “Ultraseven” being featured in an episode), updated versions of classic monsters like Red King, Eleking and Pigmon among others. One unusual episode (#29) revolves around the filming of the 1964 program Ultra Q which was the predecessor to the first Ultraman show in 1966. Two actors from that show appear as themselves.

Although certain monsters from the previous Ultra Series appear here in this series, the characters do not actually recognize them. This series does not have any direct continuity to any of the other Ultra Series(except episode 24:”The Untargeted Town” which seems to be a sequel to the Ultraseven series episode 8:”Aimed Town“).

Just like his predecessors, Ultraman Max is from Nebula M78 and is supported by DASH (Defense Action Squad Heroes), a branch of the UDF (United Defense Federation). His human host’s name is Touma Kaito. Ultraman Max is based on Ultraseven and has two main weapons at his disposal, the Maxium Cannon fired from his left hand and the Maxium Sword which is a hand held boomerang cutter.

Another Ultraman known as Ultraman Xenon, or Janos, appears for the first time in episode 13, and again briefly in episode 39. While Ultraman Xenon is summoning a new weapon from the sky to use against Zetton, he is attacked by Zetton and the weapon attaches itself to Max’s right wrist. Ultraman Max then uses the new weapon known as the Max Galaxy to destroy Zetton.

Team DASH is stationed in a harbor and their base is called the Base Titan. They have a main airplane called the Dash Mother which releases two other small planes known as Dash Bird 1 and 2. A third plane called the Dash Bird 3 appears in episode 23.

Team DASH also has a robot operator, who learns a bit about human behavior in some episodes. Her name is Elly and she has a small ball shaped robot called Koko which makes a high pitched sound to respond to queries.

This series was also unique as it was the first time a gaijin (foreigner) was an official member of the Ultraman team. The character’s name is Sean White (played by actor Sean Nichols who is famous in Japan for being on the popular children’s program Eigo de Asobo—Let’s Have Fun with English).

The characters

Defense Action Squad Heroes (DASH)

                     Captain Shigeru Hijikata: The team leader of DASH.

                                 Actor: Kai Shishido

                    Kenjiro Koba: The marksman and sharpshooter of DASH.

                                 Actor: Nobuyuki Ogawa

                    Mizuki Koishikawa: The ace pilot and token female member: She is Kaito/Ultraman Max’s love interest.

                               Actor: Hitomi Hasebe

                   Sean White: The team inventor/scientist/joker: He was transported from DASH North America branch.

                              Actor: Sean Nichols

                 Elly: The robot operator (android) of DASH.: She learns human behavior and once wished to become a human.: She even cried in Episode 16 and in the final episode.

                             Actor: Hikari Mitsushima

                     Kaito Touma/Ultraman Max: The team’s latest recruit.: He failed during DASH test before eventually joining DASH.: He was saved by Ultraman Max from a certain death and was given the Max Spark,: so that he could transform whenever needs arose.

                                Actor: Sota Aoyama

Supporting characters

                   Chief Kenzo Tomioka: A UDF general, the supervisor of DASH.

                              Actor: Susumu Kurobe

                            Trivia: Actor Kurobe played Hayata from the original Ultraman series.

                     Professor Yukari Yoshinaga.

                                Actor: Hiroko Sakurai

                               Trivia: Actress Sakurai played Fuji from the original Ultraman series.

                     Ultraman Xenon (ウルトラマンゼノン Urutoraman Xenon): He appears once to help Ultraman Max when he is in danger and is also the one that gives Ultraman Max the Max Galaxy.

                     Natsumi Oda

                                 Actor: Nao Nagasawa

                                 Appeared in Episodes 13 and 14

Ultraman Max’s Powers and Techniques

Icing Wave: An ability to extinguish large fires.

Max Spark: A defensive attack used as a force field.: It is also his transforming device.

Maxium Sword: A cutting blade which appears from the top of his head.: It is computer graphically generated until it “appears” when it then becomes a physical object which: Ultraman Max uses to slice up enemies.: It has the ability to be split into many other similar sized blades to cause multiple damage to the enemy.: It is similar to Seven’s Eye Slugger.

Maxium Cannon: Ultraman Max’s L shaped “Specium Beam” finisher – the trademark of most Ultras.: His L style is left-handed.

Max Galaxy: A weapon introduced in episode 13 which Ultraman Xenon summons from the sky.: He is push away by the opponent and it attaches to Ultraman Max’s right wrist.: Ultraman Max can then use a short beam like blade which shoots a powerful beam to destroy an opponent’s shield.: It also extends outside of the Earth’s atmosphere in the last episode so that Ultraman Max can use it to slice through Giga Berserk.

Ultraman Xenon’s Powers and Techniques

Xenon Cannon: Ultraman Max’s L shaped finisher.: His L style is left-handed.

Max Galaxy: Xenon summoned this weapon in the sky while in combat, but he gave this weapon to Ultraman Max.